West Gippsland Chorale - Musical Direction

Musical Director - Jan MacLean

Jan

Jan has always had a great love of music. At the age of 15 she first sang Handel’s Messiah in Yallourn, and gained her A. Mus. A. in piano in the same year. From that time she began a lifelong interest in choral music, and as a pianist has enjoyed accompanying singers and instrumentalists over the years. She also studied the pipe organ for three years and has been an organist in Hamilton, Horsham, and now Warragul.

When training to be a teacher she sang in Melbourne University Choral Society, then Yallourn Madrigal Singers, Geelong GAMA Singers, and Hamilton Lydian Singers, gaining valuable insights into leading a choir from a variety of skilled conductors.

In the early 70s she founded a small madrigal group in Hopetoun and directed a Southern Mallee choir for their first ever performance of Messiah. Following that, she trained the Horsham Christmas Choir for several years.

During her teaching career she has trained various secondary school choirs and directed many school musicals. On moving to Warragul in the early 80s she founded the Warragul Madrigal Singers which expanded to become the West Gippsland Chorale.

She considers it a privilege and a great joy to have made a contribution to the musical education of people in the regions where she and her husband Don have been based. In particular, she values the wonderful friendship, support and loyalty of the talented members of the West Gippsland Chorale which she has directed for the past 21 years.

Accompanist, Lisa Fraser

Lisa is a graduate of the University of Queensland having studied piano with Pamela Page. She also completed education studies at Monash University and was based for a number of years at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar in Melbourne, participating in many areas of classroom music education including VCE, performing, accompanying, musical productions, choral education and piano tuition. Lisa has previously enjoyed being a member of The Melbourne Chorale, participated in various conducting and vocal workshops and has studied voice with Kathryn Sadler in Melbourne. Lisa currently works in Warragul teaching piano, theory and voice and is delighted to be a part of The West Gippsland Chorale.

Occasional Guest Conductor - Peter Bandy

Peter

Australian Peter Bandy has earned himself a reputation as a conductor of considerable experience with many successful performances in genres such as choral, orchestral, opera and ballet music. Alongside his performing talents are years spent learning his craft as music director, music arranger and orchestra manager.

Peter has worked with a diversity of artists such as James Galway, Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge, Rolf Harris and Peter Schikele (PDQ Bach). Peter Bandy studied at the University of Western Australia and in 1976 won a professional conducting audition with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. In 1979 he received a grant from the Western Australian Arts Council enabling him to study conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Vilem Tausky. He has held important positions in Australia conducting orchestral and choral music, opera and ballet, and has now directed most major professional symphony orchestras in Australia and New Zealand.

In 1976 Peter Bandy formed the 150-voice Perth Oratorio Choir which performed most of the major oratorios with professional symphony orchestras, including highly acclaimed engagements for the ABC of the Messiah, Alexander Nevsky, Gloria (Poulenc), and Stabat Mater (Rossini). He was music director of this choir for ten years and his association with them continues.

Since 1987, Peter Bandy has undertaken engagements as chorus master with the Australian Opera, and in 1989 he made his debut as a conductor with that company. Prior to this he was Music Director of the West Australian Gilbert and Sullivan Society for seven years. As associate and resident conductor of the Australian Ballet from 1987, he has conducted most ballets in the company’s repertoire. In 1992, he toured with the company to New Zealand, conducting the Auckland Philharmonia in performances of Romeo and Juliet. He has also conducted for the Royal New Zealand, West Australian and Queensland Ballet Companies. In 1994 to 1995, he again visited New Zealand, conducting concerts with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Christchurch Symphony plus seasons with the Royal New Zealand Ballet involving the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

From 1996 to 1998, Peter was music director of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Society and also at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School. He was appointed music director and chief conductor of the Melbourne Youth Orchestra in 1993 and has directed his young players through successful performances of Mahler’s 1st and 2nd Symphonies, Carmina Burana, Verdi’s Requiem, Holst’s Planets Suite, Pictures At An Exhibition (Moussorgsky/Ravel) and The Rite Of Spring. His association with this orchestra continues.